My Prediction: January 30, 2023
This year, the Best Director category is particularly competitive with five (actually six) strong contenders.
However, five of the 6 nominees are first-timers.
Spielberg, the oldest and most honored director of the bunch, has already won two Best Director Oscars, for Schindler’s List in 1993 and for Saving Private Ryan in 1998.
Alongside with fellow helmer (and friend), Martin Scorsese, he is the most nominated living director, with 9 nominations (including this year) to his credit.
Ruben Östlund receives his first nomination for the biting comedy “Triangle of Sadness.”
He’ll compete against several Oscar veterans including filmmaking icon Spielberg for his revealing retrospective “The Fabelmans.”
Martin McDonagh’s comedic tale of friendship “The Banshees of Inisherin” breaks into the nominees alongside Todd Field’s impeccable “Tár.”
Both McDonagh and Field have been nominated before for Best Screenplay and Best Picture, but not for Best Director.
Last but certainly not least is Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert –known as The Daniels–bewildering Everything Everywhere All at Once, which leads the charge with an astounding record of 11 nominations.
If Spielberg wins, it will be his third directing Oscar, after being honored for Schindler’s List in 1993 and for Saving Private Ryan in 1998.
